Season opening ceremony at Espa Stage – Kajos | Viia | Sounds of South America

The opening ceremony of the Espa stage will kick off with a great selection of music.

The beats range from contemporary folk music to the melancholy of dark-pop and Latin rhythms!

The opening ceremony of the Espa stage kicks off at 16.00 with the mythical and powerful contemporary folk music of Kajos. At 17.00 Viia’s cinematic dark-pop will take over the stage, and at 18.00 the party will be topped off by Sounds of South America and their rhythm-rich buffet of Latin beats.

Programme of the day
at 16.00 Kajos
at 17.00 Viia
at 18.00 Sounds of South America

Kajos
Kajos is a powerful contemporary folk music band performing music inspired by the Finnish-Karelian incantation traditions and the powerful forces of nature. The primal and acrobatic use of sound in Kajos’s music, combined with the touching cello, rugged beats and cinematic soundscapes, envelop their audiences in a mythical, timeless reality. The live ensemble of Kajos consists of singer-composer Sini Koskelainen, cellist Susanna Syrjäläinen and percussionist Oskari Lehtonen.

Viia
Viia is a Pori-based singer-songwriter who writes cinematic dark-pop in English and with a rocking twist. Her music is characterised by catchy melodies, strong choruses and an empowering sense of melancholy. Viia’s relatable lyrics tackle the painful parts of relationships and everyday taboos – themes that really draw the listener in.

During the 2025 Espa stage season, Viia wowed audiences in the Open Stage series, and now she’s ready to bring her charm to the new season’s opening ceremony!

Sounds of South America
Sounds of South America, led by Argentinian Leandro Roco, performs traditional music from all over the Spanish-speaking world. The four-piece band performs Colombian cumbia, Spanish flamenco and Uruguayan candombe and many other styles, and will now bring their buffet of Latin music to the Espa stage!

Leandro Roco – guitar, vocals
Fabio de Oliveira – guitar, backing vocals
Humphrey Mubba – bass, backing vocals
Jani Lehtioksa – percussions, backing vocals